Norman Revision 3 - Marcher Earldoms, Submission of the Earls, castles Flashcards
Explain why the Earls submitted to William in 1066 (4 points)
1 - William had control of Wessex and the south-coast
2 - William pillaged the lands in the south-east
3 - William encircled London
4 - Edgar Aethling was not a strong leader
William had control of Wessex and the south-coast evidence
- William knew that England would not surrender so fortified his position on the south-coast
- he did this to bring over reinforcements, supplies, and mercenaries to replenish his army
- he also took control of Winchester and took control of the royal treasury: had control of the south of England and its finances
William pillaged the lands in the south-east evidence
- as the Normans travelled through the countryside they destroyed towns and villages, intimidated the inhabitants, burned crops, and devastated the countryside
- first town was Romney, where some of William’s men had been killed when they first landed: William ‘took vengeance for the slaughter of his men’ - Anglo-Saxon chronicle
- William was sending a clear message to the people of England: submit or die. The intimidation was brutal but it worked and the towns in the south surrendered quickly
William encircled London evidence
- London was a heavily fortified city with impenetrable stone walls and did not surrender
- William marched his troops to the West of London and took control of Dover, Canterbury, and Winchester
- his route cut off the Earls from their reinforcements and supply routes. The Earls were not prepared for a siege but William was and could wait while the people of London starved
Edgar Aethling was not a strong leader evidence
- after Hastings, Edgar was elected King
- he had no military experience or army to defeat William
- when William reached Berkhamsted he was met by Edgar Aethling, the Earls, and an Archbishop. They submitted to time, swore oaths, and gave him hostages. In return he promised to be a ‘gracious lord’. This was the ‘submission of the Earls’.
Two features of the Marcher Earldoms
1) Three new earldoms made in the Marcher region: Chester, Shrewsbury, Hereford. William used the Marcher earldoms to reward his followers, e.g. William FitzOsbern. The Marcher Earls were exempt from taxes.
2) The Marcher Earldoms came with special privileges: create towns, establish markets, build new churches to replace Anglo Saxon ones, and build new castles without needing to get permission from the King.
Explain why William created the Marcher Earldoms. (3 points)
- to reward William’s loyal followers and encourage Normans to settle
- to protect the ‘Marcher region’ between England and Wales
- to impose law and order and prevent rebellions
William created the Marcher Earldoms to reward his loyal followers and encourage Normans to settle evidence
- William had promised his supporters land and wealth from England
- created 3 new Earldoms (Hereford, Shrewsbury, Chester), which he gave to loyal supporters
- each given special privileges (eg right to establish new towns and markets and build castles)
William created the Marcher Earldoms to protect the ‘Marcher region’ between England and Wales evidence
- England and Wales had been at war constantly during the reign of Kind Edward - since 1063 (death of King Llewellyn) near constant attacks by Welsh princes who wanted to expand their land
- created Marcher earldoms, each smaller than normal so easier to defend
- Earls were encouraged to build castles to defend the border
William created the Marcher earldoms to impose law and order and prevent rebellions evidence
- the Marcher region was a traditionally rebellious area
- William gave the Marcher Earls full control of law and order in their Earldoms - responsible for building castles which were used to suppress/deter localised rebellions
- e.g. 1069 - Eadric the Wild launched rebellion in Marcher region - William busy defeating rebellions in the North, Marcher Earls able to defeat the rebellion and re-impose Norman control
Two features of Norman castles
1) Motte and bailey castles were easily defended: strong outer defences including ditch, palisades, and a fortified keep which sat atop the 7-foot high earth motte.
2) Castles were built in strategic locations such as river crossings and mountain passes to help William control the population. He built castles in rebellious areas such as Warwick and York to help Earls to maintain law and order.
Explain why the Normans built castles after the invasion (3 points)
1 - to dominate and control the Anglo-Saxon population
2 - to defend England from foreign threats
3 - to provide a safe place for his soldiers to live
The Normans built castles to dominate and control the Anglo-Saxon population evidence
- castles were built in rebellious areas and were used to control/intimidate the population - they were a symbol of Norman dominance
- castles were used to defend against rebellions + provided a defensible base from which to defeat Anglo-Saxon rebels
- e.g. Eadric the Wild launched rebellion in the Marcher region and burned down the town of Shrewsbury, but rebellion was defeated by Norman forces garrisoned in castles
The Normans built castles to defend England from foreign threats evidence
- England + Wales constantly at war during reign of Edward (since death of King in 1063 near constant attacks from Welsh princes who wanted to expand their land)
- William created 3 new earldoms (Marcher) on the border of Wales
- Earls were encouraged to build castles to defend border - more castles built in Marcher region that anywhere else in England
Normans built castles to provide a safe place for soldiers to live evidence
- motte and bailey castles were easily defendable (strong outer defences e.g. ditch, palisades, fortified keep which sat atop 7-foot high earth motte)
- thousands of Norman troops + cavalry could be garrisoned in the castles bailey
- William needed to protect his soldiers from the hostile Anglo - Saxon population
